170-145 BC Bactria Eucratides I Silver Tetradrachm NGC Choice About Uncirculated Fine Style 4x5

Eucratides I took the Bactrian throne by force, then placed his parents on his silver to prove he belonged there. The legend names Heliocles and Laodice, and Laodice wears the royal diadem that pointed to Seleucid blood. Greek Bactria sat far east of the Mediterranean, and few ancient coins honor a king's mother and father together like this one. NGC also awarded this tetradrachm its Fine Style designation, a mark given only to dies cut by the finest engravers.

The jugate portraits dominate one side, with two draped busts overlapping in high relief and a control monogram in the left field. Fine Style engraving shows in the crisp curls, the firm jawlines, and the careful drapery folds across the shoulders. The other side carries the armored bust of Eucratides in a crested helmet decorated with a bull's horn and ear, a warrior image that matched his reputation. Around him the Greek legend hails him as the Great King Eucratides, with bold letters standing clear of the field.

NGC graded this tetradrachm Choice About Uncirculated with a Strike of 4/5 and a Surface of 5/5, noting Fine Style and a die shift. The surfaces are bright and even, with light cabinet toning and only slight friction on the highest points of the portraits. At 16.94 grams, the flan is full and round, and the beaded borders remain visible on both sides. Grades this high with Fine Style engraving rank among the best available for Greco-Bactrian silver, and the eye appeal here is strong. A welcome addition to any collection of Hellenistic silver from the Greek East. The coin pictured is the exact coin you will receive.

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